That, in a nutshell, is how Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said things would unfold in the home opener against the Winnipeg Jets, back in the NHL 15 years after the franchise departed for Phoenix.

And he was right.

Only seconds after the initial wave of excitement had passed, it was business as usual for a Coyotes team that kept things simple, applied pressure and found yet another player who made a surprise contribution.

Two goals by young defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson triggered a 4-1 win in front of 17,132 on Saturday at Jobing.com Arena.

"There's a lot made with the situation from the past, with the situation that we were supposed to move, to them getting a team, the hoopla about their team there," Tippett said. "Ultimately, when the puck dropped, I was very proud of our guys.

"We wanted to get off to a great start; I think we did that. Scoring on the first shift certainly helps gets our crowd in the game and helps dissolve some of the emotion coming from the Winnipeg fans."

Daymond Langkow scored his first goal of the season 34 seconds into the game, and Ekman-Larsson scored later in the period and again in the second to give the Coyotes a 3-0 lead. The Jets' Andrew Ladd cut the margin to two goals on a deflection with 19 seconds left in the second, but Ray Whitney responded with a power-play goal in the third period.

Ekman-Larsson, who had one goal in 48 games last season, has three in four games, and he also is honing his overall skill set; Tippett said Ekman-Larsson is "buying into the details of the game."

Said Ekman-Larsson: "I feel comfortable. I try to do my best out there for the team, and it's fun to score and block shots. I just want to compete and hard every night."

Goaltender Mike Smith won for the first time this season. Thanks to a solid defensive game in front of him, he had to face only 19 shots, but he said that is a case that here numbers do not necessarily tell the whole story.

"Sometimes those games can get away from you mentally," said Smith, who also thwarted a Jets penalty shot. "The guys in front of me just played outstanding, our (defense was) good once again. It's easier in a way, but mentally I've got to battle harder."

Tippett viewed it in a similar fashion.

"I thought he was very good, because in the first period there were some pucks that were coming to the net that didn't end up being shots on goal, but they were pucks that were thrown to the net," he said.

"We had nine blocked shots in the first period, and as a goalie you're playing that as if it's a shot. He was on top of his game. It's great to see him get his first win with us."

So when all was said and done, it boiled down to a group of guys playing to its identity: No superstars, meaningful contributions from all the lines, 60 minutes of pressure.

The lone Coyotes player still on the roster from the Winnipeg years is Shane Doan, who had two assists, and defenseman Keith Yandle said it meant something to get the win in light of that. Still, Yandle said, the bottom line was playing hockey.

"Yeah, absolutely," he said. "It's a thing where the media, you guys make it a bigger deal than what it is, playing against Winnipeg, the team that we used to be, but it makes for good TV and newspaper. But it's a thing where' it's just another game for us."

Coyotes report

Key player: Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson had two goals.

Key moment: Daymond Langkow scored 34 seconds into the game to set the tone, and the Coyotes did not give the Jets a chance to get back in the game.

Key number: 33. Blocked shots by the Coyotes.

View from the press box

It's still early in Oliver Ekman-Larsson's second season, and if what he showed Saturday is an indication of things to come, the young defenseman could be about to make huge strides. The big thing for him right now is that he feels comfortable and confident. Combine that with youth, and it's an intangible that can carry him a long way.

Oct. 15, 2011 - Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, right, celebrates his second goal of the game with teammate Adrian Aucoin, left, in the second period against the Winnipeg Jets in the team's home opener.